SINGAPORE — SMRT will be ending train services at six North-South Line MRT stations a little earlier for five nights a week from April 15 to facilitate the replacement of rail sleepers, the company announced today (March 26).

Services at Ang Mo Kio, Yio Chu Kang, Khatib, Yishun, Sembawang and Admiralty stations will cease 30 minutes earlier than usual, at 12.30am, from Sunday to Thursday, except on public holiday eves. SMRT said the early closure will begin on April 15 and is expected to end in late October.

Commuters who board trains after 11.40pm on the NSL are advised to plan their journey and consider alternative transport arrangements, such as bus services, to get to their final destination.

This includes those on the north-bound train headed towards Jurong East, as well as those on the south-bound train headed towards Ang Mo Kio. To help plan their journeys, commuters may refer to the Land Transport Authority’s Public Transport@SG website www.publictransport.sg.

The six NSL stations account for 30,000 sleepers, or 20 per cent of all the 188,000 sleepers across SMRT’s 131km rail network.

SMRT said that the early closure on weekday nights will enable SMRT to deploy machinery more efficiently to accelerate replacement works, and help enhance system reliability and offer smoother rides.

The early closure will also allow for quicker implementation of other key projects, such as re-signalling and future third rail replacement.

The sleeper replacement schedule is updated regularly on SMRT’s corporate website at: www.smrt.com.sg/SMRTMe/ServiceEnhancements/CurrentUpcomingProjects.aspx